Can-capping machine.



No. 70|,02|. f Patented May 27, |902. M. DUYLE &. F. GEBBIE.

GAN CAPP-ING MACHINE.

(Application led June 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I,

Patented May 27, i902.

No. 70mm.

M. DDYLE & F. GEBBIE.

CAN CAPPING MACHINE.

(Application med June 2i, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

ms Nonnls zum co. Puooumo WASHINGTON, n, c.

Y No. 7U|,02|. Patented May 27, |902.

i M. DOYLE & F. GEBBIE.

CAN CAPPING MACHINE.

(Application led June 21, 1901.) (No Model.; 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ma Nonms PETERS co. PHQTuLITHo.. wAsmNsroN, D` c.

UNrrnn STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL DOYLE, OF ROCHESTER, AND FRANK GEBBIE, OF ST. JOHNSVILLE, NEVYORK.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 701,021, dated May 27,1902.

Application filed June 21, 1901. Serial No. 65.390. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it' may concern,.-

Beit known that we, MICHAEL DOYLE, a resident of Rochester, in thecounty of Monroe, and FRANK GEBBIE, a resident of St.

5 Johnsville, in the county of Montgomery, in the State of New York,citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Can Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

1o This invention relates to a machine which is designed for closing thefilling-openings in the tops of sheet-metal cansfor instance, cans usedfor putting up condensed milk, fruits, vegetables, tito-by flangedsheet-metal caps,

x5 which are secured in the opening by bending the iange of the cap overthe flange which surrounds the filling-opening and interlocking theflanges in such manner as to secure the cap tightly in the opening by aliquidzo tight joint without solder. y

One object of our invention is to employ a cap of shallow cup shapehaving a horizontal iiange projecting outwardly from the upper end ofthe upright wall of the cap, so that the a5 latter can be struck up inone operation ready for application to the can.

Another object of our invention is to produce a machine which willsecure the cap in the filling-opening quickly and tightly by two 5osuccessive crimping operations, consisting ofl a preliminary or partialcrimping or bending of the horizontal cap-fiange over the upright liangesurrounding the opening and a finalcrimping operation, which presses theflanges g 5 tightly against each other and also interlocks the same.

Anotherobject of our invention is to construct the machinein such mannerthat these crimping operations are performed automatto ically after thecan and cap have been placed in the machine and the crimpinginstrumentalities have been started by the operator and so that theseinstrumentalities are stopped automatically when the cap has beensecured i5 in the opening, so that the capped can may be removed by theoperator and another can put in the machine, when the cycle or series ofoperations is repeated.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting ,o of three sheets, Figure 1isa side elevation of a can-capping machine embodying our invention.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine. Fig. 3 isa vertical longitudinal sectional view of the upper part of the machine.Fig. t is a vertical transverse sec- 55 tional View, on an enlargedscale, showing the position of the preliminary and finalcrimping-rollers in the position they occupy just prior to commencingthe crimping operations. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the prelimi-6c nary crimping-roller in operative position. Fig. 6 is a similar Viewshowing the final crimping-roller in operative position. Fig. 7

is a similar view showing a dierent form of closure with the proper nalcrimping-roller 65 and mandrel therefor. Fig. 8 is an enlargedhorizontal sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is asectional viewof the locking-bar and shipper-cam. Fig.\10 is a rear View of theshipper-cam. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of 7o the same parts. Fig. 12is a fragmentary vertical section of the can-support and itsdriving-spindle on an enlarged scale. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section online 13 13, Fig. 12, looking upward. Figs. 14, 15,- and 16 are diagram-75 matic views showing the dierent steps which are performed in securingthe cap by an oblique crimped joint by means of the mandrelandrcrirnping-rollers shown in Figs. 1 to 6. p Figs. 17, 18, and 19 aresimilar views showing 8o the different steps which are performed insecuring the cap by an internally-beaded joint by means of the mandreland crimping-roll- -ers shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 2O is a side elevationfofthe actuating mechanism of one of the 85 crimping-rollers on the scaleon which these parts are shown in Figs. 4 to S. Fig. 21 is an enlargedsectional view of the frictional driving mechanism on the cam-shaft.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The closure or joint by which the cap is secured in the flanged openingmay be made in several ways. In Figs. 1 to 6 and 14 to 1G it is made bybending the closed iianges obliquely, g 5 and in Figs. 7 and 17 to 1S)it is made by throwing an annular lip or bead out of the bottom of thecap below the upright iiange su rrounding the opening.

A represents the can to be capped; a, the

, the opening.

B represents the cap, having the form of a shallow cup of the propersize to fill the opening when the cap is placed in the same with itshorizontal ange b resting upon the upright flange a2 of the can, asshown in Figs. 4, 14, and 17. The preliminary crimping operationillustrated in Figs. 15 and 18 consists in bending the horizontal flangeof the cap down over the Hange of the can to an oblique position. Thisoperation is practically the same in the two styles of closureillustrated in the drawings, while the final crimping operations aredifferent. In the closure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and 14: to 16 thefinal operation consists in closing the flange and the upright wall ofthe cap tightly against the flange of the can and bending the closedflanges obliquely, as shown in Fig. 16, to interlock the flanges. In theclosure illustrated in Figs. 7 and 17 to 19 the anges remain vertical,and the final crimping operation consists of closing the iiange andupright wall of the cap against the flange of the can and throwing abead or annular lip b out on the cap at the bottom thereof. Eitherclosure can be produced by our improved machine by usinginstrumentalities of the proper shape.

The frame of our improved capping-machine consists of a lower part C andan upper part C', secured together in any convenient manner. Journaledin upper and lower bearings c c on the upper frame part C is a verticalmain driving-shaft c2, providedwith a driving belt-pulley c3. providednear its lower end with a thrustcollar c, which supports the shaft uponthe lower bearing c'.

D indicates a can-supporting disk or plate which is mounted so as to becapable of rotation and of movement up and down in the following manner:The support D, which is provided with a marginal retaining-flange d forthe can, is carried by the upper end of a shaft or spindle E, mounted toslide vertically in a sleeve E', Fig. 3, to which itis connected bymeans of a feather or key e, so as to rotate therewith. The sleeve E isrotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings F F on the upper framepart C'. Fixed to the sleeve below the upper bearing F is a beltpulleyG, driven from a pulley G on the main driving-shaft c2 by means ot' abelt G2. It will thus be seen that the sleeve E andthe shaft E carriedthereby are rotated and that the shaft is also vertically slidable inthe sleeve. The sleeve is held against vertical displacement by anysuitable meansfor instance, by a. flange e at its upper end bearingagainst the upper side of the upper bearing F, and the hub of the pulleyG bearing against the lower side thereof.

The shaft E is moved up toward the crimpving devices to carry thecan-support D intoy operative position by means of a lever H, ful- Thisdriving-shaft is crumed at 7i to a convenient part of the machine-frame.The lever carries at its front end a pivoted block H', which engagesunderneath the shaft E. While other devices will readily suggestthemselves for this purpose, the construction just described is adesirable one. At its rear end the lever is pivotally connected to thelower end of a bar I, which we term the locking-bar. This bar is looselyconnected at its lower end by a link I to an operating-lever I2, (shownas a foottreadle,) fulcrumed at its rear end to some suitable xed part13, attached to the floor or some other support. I4 indicates a springsecured to the treadle l2 and to a suitable part of the frame forreturning vthe treadle to its normal raised position after it has beenreleased.

As it is desirable to automatically retain the shaft E and can-support Din the raised or operative position until the crimping is completed, andthereby relieve the operator from the necessity and exertion of holdingthe treadle down, the locking-bar I, above referred to,is employed. Thisbar passes loosely (see Fig. 3) through openings in the bearings F F andhas at or nearits upper end ashoulder l5, adapted to engage a stopformed by a fixed part ofthe frame, into engagement with which it isthrown by the rearward pull of the link I on its lower en'd when thetreadle is depressed. As shown in Fig. 3, the shoulder at the upper endof the locking-bar is arranged on the front side of the bar and engagesagainst the under side of a forwardlyprojecting part I(i of the frame,which is provided with an opening I7, in which the upper end of the barplays. When the treadle is depressed, the upper end of the barislowered, with its shoulder below the part I6 of the frame, and alsothrown forward, so that the shoulder engages against the under side ofthe frame part I6, which forms a stop Afor the ,locking-bar. In thisposition of the bar the latter holds the treadle depressed and thecanlsupport elevated in its operative position. By pressing the upperend of the locking-bar backward it is released from this stop, and thespring of the treadle then raises lthe latter and the locking-bar andlowers the can-support. The locking-bar remains in this locked positionto hold the can-support up until the capping operation has beencompleted, when the bar is automatically released by means which will behereinafter described.

J represents an upright spindle or shaft which is arranged centrallyabove the cansupport and which carries at its lower end a mandrel J',Figs. 1 to 6 and 14 to 1G, or J2, Figs. 7 and 17 to 19, which enters thecavity of the cap. This mandrel is secured to the spindle preferably bydetachable connections-for instance, a screw-thread. The mandrel-shaft Jis rotatably mounted in an upper bearing K and alower bearing K',thelatter being formed in the part 1(i of the frame. K2 is a pulley whichis secured to this shaft between these bearings and which is driven by'a belt K3 from a pulley K4 on the driving-shaft c2. The mandrel-shaft Jis adjustable vertically, and for this purpose it is journaled andsupported with its upper portion in a vertically-adjustable bushing 7cin the upper bearing K. The shaft is provided below the bushing with acollar Z and above the bushing with a washer It and nut 7a2. The bushingis externally screw-threaded and secured in a screw-threaded opening inthe bearing K, in which it is clamped by a jam-nut 7.32.

The crimping devices comprise a preliminary crimping-roller L and afinal crimpingroller M. These rollers are movably supported to bebrought into contact with the work successively, one moving to the work,crimping, and then returning, after which the other performs similarfunctions. A desirable mechanism for accomplishing this is constructedas follows: The preliminary crimping-roller L is loosely mounted on adepending stud-shaft L', carried by an arm L2 of the front end of ahorizontal rock-shaft L3, which latter is journaled in suitable bearingsLA1 in the upper frame part at one side of the mandrel-shaft. This shaftL3 has secured to its rear portion an actuating rock-arm L5, provided atits end with an antifriction-roller LG. The other or iinalcrimping-roller M is similarly mounted at the opposite side of themandrel-shaft on a depending stud-shaft M', carried by an arm M2 on arock-shaft M3, journaled in bearings M'1 and having secured thereto anactuating rock-arm M5, provided at its ends with an antifriction-rollerMG. These arms project upwardly toward a horizontal cam-shaft N, whichis journaled in a rear bearing N', formed in the upper frame portionC,and a front bearing N2, formed in the frame portion l. Secured to theshaft N conveniently between its bearings N and N2 are twoactuating-cams LT and M7, arranged one behind the other. The cam L7 isso located and fashioned as to engage in the rotation of the shaft withthe antifriction-roller L6 and swing the arm L5 outwardly, which causesthe preliminary crimping-roller L to move in toward the mandrel and toits work. The cam MT is so located and Jfashioned as to engage in therotation of the shaft with the antifriction-roller Mjust about the timethat the other can passes from engagement with its arm and causes thefinal crimping-roller M to move into operative position. Each of thecams LT and M7 gradually increases in radius or depth toward its rearend, thus gradually moving the crimping-rollers with increasing pressuretoward the work.

Any desired means may be employed for returning the crimping-rollers totheir inactive position-for instance, springs LS M,S which hold theactuating-arms against the cams. A convenient way of applying thesesprings consists in connecting the same not directly to theactuating-arms, but to arms L9 M2, loosely mounted on the shafts Ls M2,re-

spectively. As shown in Figs. S and 20, the arm M9 of the final rollercarries an adjusting-screw M10, which is held against a lug M11 on thearm M5 by the tension of the spring and whereby the spring tension canbe adjusted. The spring L8 of the preliminary crimping-roller isconnected with the arm L9 in a similar manner.

The stop device illustrated in the drawings for bringing the crimpinginstrumentalities to rest and lowering the can-support after the closureis completed is as follows:

Secured to and rotating with the shaft N is a shipper-cam O, which hasan oblique shipper-face O', adapted to engage with the front side of thelocking-bar I, Fig. 9, and move the same rearwardly to disengage itsshoulder I5 from the stop, thus permitting the locking-bar and treadleto be moved upward to their normal position by the `spring I4, which,through the lever l-l and its connections, lowers the can-support. Theshippercam carries at the rear end of its oblique shipper-face O a stoplug or projection O2, which after the locking-bar'has been released andthrown upward engages against the side of the bar. The latter now stopsthe further rotation of the cam-shaft N, and this occurs after thecrimping-rollers have completed one cycle of operations and thecan-support has been lowered with the capped can and leaves the parts inposition for receiving a fresh can to be capped and repeating the cycleof operations.

To permit the stopping of the cam-shaft in this manner, the shaft isdriven by a driving mechanism including a friction-clutch device of anysuitable construction. That which is shown in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2,and 21, for this purpose is constructed as follows: On the rear portionof the cam-shaft is loosely mounted a bevel gear-wheel P, which isdriven by a pinion P,ixed on the upper end of a vertical counter-shaftP2, which is journaled in bearings in the upper frame part C. Thiscounter-shaft is provided with a pulley P3, which is driven from apulley P4 on the driveshaft c2 by a belt The gear P is not fixed to theshaft N and only drives the latter through the medium of afriction-clutch device, so that the shaft N can be stopped, while thegear P continues its rotation. The friction-clutch illustrated in thedrawings comprises friction-rings Q,of leather or other suitablematerial, on each side of the hub of the gear-wheel P, a fixed collar Qon the shaft, a clamping-ring Q2, and a clamping-nut Q2 screwed onto thescrew-threaded end of the shaft N. The clamping-ring Q2 is preferablykeyed to the shaft to prevent' its turning thereon, and thus causing theturning of the clamping-nut.

Inasmuch as the mandrel shaft or spindle J is journaled in fixedbearings and the mandrel is necessarily smaller than the cavity of thecap, to enable the mandrelV to be inserted for performing its functionand to be with- IOO IIO

drawn it is necessary'that the can should be able to move laterally witheachV crimpingroller to the mandrel. To accomplish this withoutrequiring the can to shift or rock on its support, the latter isloosely-mounted. on the upper end of its carrying-spindle E in suchmanner that the support is capable of a slight wabbling or tiltingmovement. For this purpose the hub r of the can-support is provided witha screw-threaded socket r', into which is screwed the end of the shaftE, which, as will be seen from Figs. 12 and 13, is so small as to make aloose connection. A locking bolt or key S is arranged on the under sideof the can-support and projects inwardly through an opening s in the hubr and engages in one of a series of upright grooves t in the end of theshaft. The bolt or key has on one side a laterally-projecting ear s2,provided with a longitudinal slot s3, through which passes a screw 34into the support. A spring-plate u is interposed between the head of thescrew and the ear s2 of the bolt or key. Upon withdrawing thislocking-bolt from the groove in the shaft the can-support can be readilyadjusted up or down on its shaft. The support is secured in its adjustedposition by engaging the connecting-key in the next adjacent groove ofthe spindle. rlhe key compels the support to turn with the shaft andallows the support the desired limited Wabbling or tiltingmotion.

The can-support and the mandrel are rotated rapidly, while thecrimping-rollers are not driven, but are simply pressed against thework. For forming the oblique closure illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16 themandrel J', having an oblique face j, and the final crimping-roller M,Figs. 1 to 6, are used. For forming the internally-beaded closure, asshown -in Fig. 7 and Figs. 17 to 19, the mandrelJz, having a beadj atits end, Fig. 7, and the final crimping-roller m are used. The can, withthe cap placed in the flanged opening in its top, is placed upon thesupport. The operator then depresses the treadle, whereby thecan-support is raised to its operative position, in which the mandrelprojects in to the .cavity of the cap. The raising of the support low-.ers the locking-bar and withdraws the latter from the locking-lug ofthe shipper-cam. This releases the cam-shaft and at the same time locksthe bar against the stop to hold the cansupport in its operativeposition. The camshaft is now rotated by the frictional drivinggear. Thepreliminary crimpingroller is next swung against the work and partiallybends the cap-ange. The nal crimpingroller is next swung against thework, whereby the closure is completed. The shippercam then releases thelocking-bar from the stop, whereby the can-support is lowered and thecapped can is withdrawn from the mandrel. When the cam-shaft hascompleted a revolution, the stop-lug on the shipper-cam is arrested bythe locking-bar and stops the further rotation of the shaft. The cappedcan is now removed by the operator and ak fresh can placed on thesupport, when the operation is repeated. i

. In moving against the work the rollers cavity or depression of theupper head ofthe can, in which the collar or flange surrounding thefiller-opening and the cap are arranged, and in moving away from thework the rollers rswing downwardly and inwardly intothe v move upwardlyand outwardly out of the p cavity or depression.

We claim as our inventionl. In acan-capping machine, the combination ofa rotary support for the can to be capped, a rotary crimping-mandrelarranged .L f

above said support and adapted to enter the depression of the cap, anupright rock-arm mounted on ahorizontal pivot, a stationary support forsaid pivot, a crimpingroller mounted directly on said rock-arm below thepivot-line thereof to swing with the rock-arm downwardly and inwardlyand upwardly and outwardly, and a rotary cam whereby said rock-arm isactuated to swing the crimpingroller downwardly and inward against thecap, substantially as set forth.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a rotary support for thecan to be capped, a rotary crimping-mandrel arranged.

l above said support and adapted to enter the depression of the cap,upright rock arms mounted on independent horizontal pivots, a stationarysupport for said pivots, preliminary and final crimping-rollers mounted,respectively, directly on said rock-arms below the pivot-lines thereofto swing with the rockarms downwardly and inwardly and upwardly andoutwardly, actuating-arms on said rockarms, a horizontal rotary shaftarranged between said actuating-arms, and cams on said shaft engagingsaid actuating-arms and actuating said rollers successively,substantially as set forth. p

3. The combination of a crimping-mandrel, a can-support, a crimpingdevice movable toward and from said mandrel, an actuating device forsaid crimping device, a frictional driving mechanism for said actuatingdevice, and a releasable stop device whereby said actuating device isheld against further action when the crimping operation has beenperformed, and whichis released for again starting said actuatingdevice, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of acrimping-mandrel, a can-support, a crimpingdevice movable toward and from said mandrel, a rotary cam for actuatingsaid crimping device, a frictional driving mechanism for actuating saidcam, a rotary stop controlling the movement of said cam, and areleasable stop against which said rotary stop engages when the crimpingoperation has been performed, substantially as set forth. n

5. The combination of acrimping-mandrel, a can-support, which is movabletoward and from the same, a crimping device which is movable toward andfrom the mandrel, an actuating device for said crimping device, africtional driving mechanism for said actuating device, a releasablestop device connected with the movable can-support for holding the .samein its operative position, and a stop device by which the further actionof said actuating device is prevented when the erimping operation hasbeen performed, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of acrimping-mandrel, 't can-support, which ismovable toward and from the same, a crimping device which is movabletoward and from said mandrel, a 3am for actuating said crimping device,a frictional driving mechanism forsaid cam, a locking-bar connected withthe can-support, a shipper-cam for releasing` the locking-bar, tnd astop on said cam for engaging against said bar and holding the actuatingcam tgainstfurther rotation, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a crimping-mandrel, i. can-support which ismovable toward and from the same, preliminary and final crimping deviceswhich are movable toward and vfrom said mandrel, a rotary cam-shaft,cams secured to said shaft for actuating said crimplng devices, africtional driving mechanism for said shaft, a locking-bar connectedwith said can-support, and a shipper-cam also se- ?,ured to said shaftand provided with a shipper-face for releasing said locking-bar and witha stop-lug for engagement against said IJar and preventing the furtherrotation of said cam-shaft, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination of a stationary frame, t crimping-mandrel, acan-support which is novable in said frame toward and from the nandrel,a locking-bar connected with the :an-support, a stationary stop on saidframe igainst which the locking-bar engages When zhe support is in itsoperative position, a nimping device which is movable toward and romsaid mandrel, and a shipper-cam by .vhich the locking-bar is releasedfrom said stop when the crimping operation has been `ierformed,substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a stationary frame, t crimping-mandrel, acan-support which is novable in said frame toward and from the nandrel,a locking-bar connected with the :an-support, a stationary stop on saidframe Lgainst which the locking-bar engages when .he support is in itsoperative position, a :rimping-roller which is moved toward and 'romsaid mandrel, an actuating-cam for said roller, and a shipper-cammovable with said actuating-cam for releasing said locklng-bar from saidstop, substantially as setforth.

10. The combination of a crimping-mandrel, a crimping device movabletoward and from said mandrel, a can-support arranged below said mandreland movable toward and from the same, an upright locking-bar movablyconnected near its lower end with said can-support, a treadle connectedwith the lower end of said locking-bar, a stop with which the upper endof said bar engages,A and means for automatically releasing said barfrom said stop, substantially as set forth.

'11. The combination of a crimping-man drel, a crimping device movabletoward and from the same, a horizontal shaft provided with anactuating-cam for said crimping device, a can-support arranged belowsaid mandrel and movable toward and from the same, an uprightdriving-shaft, driving connections extending from said shaft to saidmandrel and said cansnpport, a frictional driving mechanism interposedbetween said drivingshaft and said cam-shaft, a locking device forsupporting said can-supportin its oper'- ative position, and ashipper-cam for releasing said locking device,`substantially as setforth.

l2. The combination of a crimping-mandrel, a crimping device movablelaterally towardand from the mandrel, a can-support facing the mandrel,a rotary supporting-spindle for the can-support, a loose connection bywhich the can-support is attached to its spindle and which permits of alimited lateral movement of the can-support on the spindle, and acoupling device by which the can-support is rotated With the spindle,substantially as set forth.`

13. The combination ofa can-support having an internal screw-thread, asupportingspindle which is provided with an external thread which `fitsloosely in the thread of the support and which is constructed with anupright groove, and a connectingfkey which is attached to the supportand movable into and out of said groove, substantially as set forth.

fitness our hands this th day of June, 1901.

MICHAEL DOYLE. FRANK GEBBIE.

lVitnesses:

EDWARD WILHELM, JNO. J. BONNER.

IOO

